Delhi Metro Shuts 16 Stations for 7 Hours Amid Protest, Commuters Hit Hard
On Wednesday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed entry and exit gates at 16 metro stations for seven hours as part of security measures following a protest by a political party at Jantar Mantar. The closures, announced around 11:30 a.m., affected stations along the Violet, Yellow, and Blue Lines, causing significant inconvenience to passengers, including students and office-goers.
The 16 stations where gates were shut include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Central Secretariat, ITO, Jor Bagh, and Shivaji Stadium. DMRC stated that interchange facilities at these stations remained operational, allowing passengers to change lines. However, many commuters reported being unaware of the closures until they were already on trains or at stations.
Tarun Atrey, a shopkeeper who runs a stall at Dilli Haat, said he could not attend an exhibition at Patel Chowk because of the restrictions. He had alighted at INA station in the morning without issue but later found the gates shut. 'I wasted an hour and eventually returned to INA. What's the use of letting people change lines if they can't leave the station?' he said.
Priyanshu, a Class 12 student preparing for the NEET exam, missed his coaching class. 'I was on my way when I found out Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Janpath, and Jor Bagh were closed. I had to take the Pink Line from Jharoda Majra, but by the time I reached, the class was over,' he said, adding that crowds at open stations felt dangerously dense.
Chirag, who works at a multinational firm, took an autorickshaw to reach his office in south Delhi, incurring extra costs. 'My salary is only ₹15,000 a month. How are we supposed to keep paying for autos every time our commute is disrupted? These decisions should be made with the public's interest in mind,' he said. Indresh, a food outlet worker in Khan Market, saw his usual 40-minute metro journey stretch to 90 minutes by road.
DMRC advised passengers to plan their journeys accordingly, but many said notifications were not received in time. The protest at Jantar Mantar continued through the day, with demonstrators chanting slogans at some locations.
